A report published on Wednesday highlighted examples of behind-the-scenes manipulation where subordinates were told how to vote in advance, and of collusion between corrupt officials or sham public consultations.
“In recent years, to standardise collective decision-making, systematic procedures and requirements were introduced in many places, including mandating public hearings and transparency mechanisms for matters closely related to the public interest,” the report by Banyuetan, a magazine run by state news agency Xinhua, said.
“However, these rules and procedures are either ignored or deliberately bent in some individuals’ hands.”
It gave the example of an unnamed town Communist Party secretary, who had been disciplined for pushing through projects against the rules.
Disciplinary inspection officials told the magazine that after that, he began pushing through projects in which he had a personal interest by setting up sham meetings.
